The honour of your presence is requested
at the marriage of
Ms. Anna-Maria Louise Darkholme
to
Mr. Remy Etienne LeBeau
Saturday, the seventh of June
Two thousand and twelve
at half after six o'clock
Riverside Church
New York City, New York
6am
Floral accents mixed with the intoxicating scent of Kerry liquid filed church candles caressed his nose in a most appealing way calming him in a soothing motion from head to toe while his amber eyes traced the contours of the ceremony hall commonly known as the nave or worship room. And yet his sense of smell wasn't his only invoked perception for his eyes were dazzled with a colorful barret of deep blue irises, alabaster anemone, baby blue baby's breath contrasted with the occasional ebony rose bouquets lining the pews tied together by lush long limpid layers of tulle a shared decoration with the chandeliers on the ceiling.
All of which, as the roads of Rome, lead to a common destination. The alter. Where his sister wanted a Buchart he wanted an Eden. Behind where the preceding reverend would stand rested a berth of blue, white, and black flowers of every type. The sheer volume of said plants gave the appearance of a floral succubus drawing all eyes to her pulchritudinous foliage. In short it was perfect save for the floral laced ivory runner with champagne accents that would be delivered within the hour.
Not wanting to leave yet comforted by the fact he would return in a few short hours he went amongst his other wedding coordinator duties. With his sister's wedding hanging in the balance he refused even a single matter to be left to chance from the runner to the rings.
Punctual to a fault he took the most direct route to the Cinderella Horse & Carriages Ride Company yet he couldn't help but admire the view. Sometimes it was nice to see the city without the people, without the filth, without the pollution. Just watching as is was nice. A spell of peace was something, as an ex-X-Men, that he looked forward to most of all which is why he always made it a point to enjoy such calm spells.
As he turned down second he remembered how limos (repace with old vehice) had been the original theme which she promptly changed proclaiming she should go Victorian all the way including the ride to and from the ceremony. An idea which he agreed. There will only be a sum of two wooden horse drawn carriages. One for the bride and groom and the other for the wedding party consisting of the groomsmen and their dates maid of honor, Kitty, and ladies in waiting, Ororo, Emma (who was recently added), Tabatha, and Amara as well as JeanLuc and his biological son Henri.
The reason for the visit however was to check on the condition of the carriages as well as making sure the owner didn't feed his white Belgium draft horses anything that would upset their stomachs leading to a foul case of flatulence. The second reason was to make sure that White, Milky, Milky-Wilky, Snow, Baked Alaska, and Neola were ready for today's excursion. Once satisfied he'd leavet to perform other duties.
8 AM
The world had changed a lot since he was a kid. He had seen many things come and go similar to the change of seasons and yet despite the world and all its differences his love for a good cigar and a job well done never changed.
"How's it looking Angel?"
Voice somewhat muffled from the passing wind, "Nothing out of the ordinary from up here."
"Wolfsbane how's Broadway looking?"
"Like stepping on stars." She replied sniffing the air for any enemy scents.
"Forge you got a bead on traffic yet?"
"I can see everything from New York city to Manhattan."
"Ay Disco Ball."
"That's Dazzler to you," she snapped, "Professor Logan."
Teasing new students was so much fun, "How's Columbus looking?"
"Ready to set sail. I had one issue though but I took care of it." She said stuffing a blonde in a blue dress into the trunk of a scrupulous vehicle.
"Good and Sunspot how's West 86th looking?"
"Everything's fine. I don't see why the security detail is needed though."
"I don't like surprises."
"Fair enough."
"And before you ask the parks fine Logan."
"You're not wearing those sunglasses again are you Jubes?"
"Uh like that was one time." Her voice turned embarrassed.
"One time that cost me a trip to the hospital."
"Oh shut up Sunspot!"
"Make me!"
"Both of you shut up." He ordered as he walked personally overlooking what his students already had. Satisfied he returned home. Walking his surrogate daughter down the aisle on his mind.
10 am
The food section for the reception became a heated debate between the bride and groom and their respective guardians for one moment all was decided then gone as if an agreement was never reached in the first place. Although the wedding was decidedly Victorian all agreed that roast of rabbit was nothing either wanted nor desired.
Eventually Kitty voiced her long buried thoughts. "Why don't you all just pick a dish?" A simple concept missed between all the short tempers quickly dissipated upon the voiced statement. Cleary agreeing Rogue picked the entrée. Still wanting to tie in the wedding one way or the other she chose bacon and blue cheese stuffed chicken breast atop a bed of savory back rice.
Remy thought it best to tie in some of his roots while still appeasing his wife to be. He recalled her love of shrimp jambalaya over dirty rice. With it sure to be a hot day especially with everyone dressed up JeanLuc suggested an array of cold appetizers from gazpacho or an antipasto platter. Maybe even throw a few finger sandwiches in for fun.
Logan on the other hand could live off a juicy medium rare steak, but had a feeling she wouldn't like his suggestion so he opted for a tasty salad. As if such a thing could exist. With food squared away they turned to a drink which is why Kurt found himself at 67th Winery in Manhattan to collect a few bottles for the entrée portion.
The server suggested the chicken dish be served with a rich Chardonnay while the jambalaya should be served with a dry sweet yet spicy Riesling also mentioning that a Chablis would be a nice pairing for any full bodied salad.
However the cocktails served with dessert were a different matter. Since it takes a lot of alcohol for his sister to even feel dazed with a fiancé who could hold his own the custom drinks for the evening were sure to make events rather interesting. Hopefully he could talk her out of strong drinks in favor of fruity cocktails.
11 am
No matter how many times she spun in her office chair in front of the floor length mirror nothing seemed to change. An unconceivable truth for the mutant seeing as her insides felt as if trapped in the midst of a typhoon. Her stomach was caught by the preverbal butterfly as her heart raced as if afraid to fall behind an unforeseen opponent, her palms trembled, and her face felt drenched and yet was dry while her feet bounced. She could practically hear her internal storm and yet Anna could not for the life of her understand why she appeared so collected on the outside. Was her mind playing tricks on her?
Eyeing her quivering hands tracing the opening of her silk robes she couldn't help but feel, what was it, anxious? Terrified? Fear? Or was she simply so happy her body could not contain it. A part of her wanted to hide under her bed and never come out while an ever more present side wanted to go through the ceremony.
She was positive she loved Remy so what was there to fear? She was just committing her life to another till the end of time. No big deal … right?
.
"Like OMG Hank did you use my disposable razor?" Kitty yelled from the bathroom with a towel covering her modesty.
"I have a zit on my face!" Amara cried in search of some Windex.
"Has anyone seen Emma?"
"What do you mean by I have to shave Elf?"
"What do you think Scott the black tie on the right or the black one on the left?"
"There's a difference?"
"Can't I just do my own hair?"
"No Tabatha."
"I have a stain on my white shirt!"
"My son's getting married or else so I want yall ta block all exits of escape."
"Does this make me look fat?"
"Da."
"Pete!"
"He's just being honest Jubi-Doll. Chill."
"Oh I'll give you a reason to chill."
"Vhere te hell is te bride?" Kurt snapped. Everyone paused when Kitty shouted, "I'll get her!"
"No Kitty you are not dressed."
"I'll get her."
.
Removing herself from underneath her bed she admitted, to herself, that she did give in to a moment of weakness. After all this was a natural part of life. Having insecurities are normal. Hiding underneath the bed at her age isn't. She had just managed to regain her composure when she heard a soft tap on the door.
"Come in."
"You look beautiful," Kurt smiled at her, "Sleep well?"
"Did you check on everything yer supposed ta?"
"Yes I'm doing fine zhanks for asking," He smiled nodding, "Ja I've seen to details. You do remember zhat ve planned veddings together yes?"
Narrowing her eyes, "Well you haven't been their most recently."
"I know …"
"I don't hate you fer leaving. Sure I was jealous and lonely but now tat I found Remy I understand."
"Good."
After a moment of silence she gave him a brief hug then ushered him out demanding that the girls meet her by her car in ten minutes to get their hair and makeup done as scheduled.
3 pm
A few thank you's and well wishes later he went to the beautiful wrought iron Vanderbilt Gates of Central Park which opens to the parks only formal garden complete with well-manicured grass, trimmed shrubs, and fountain.
For the reception the bride and groom will sit in front of the fountain on a cotton lace linen table with blue willow place settings, an ivy everlasting floral arrangement in an ebony wrought iron vase, giving them an elegant backdrop. Following the closest curved lines of shrubs will be one equally shaped table on both sides to hold the wedding party.
While eating there will be round tables scattered along the center of the lawn, but as the night draws to a close the guest will occupy the more comfortable chairs along the side tables. The center tables will be pulled back while a faux wood floor would be added for dancing and games.
For now however it was simply an empty space. And the party rental wouldn't be here for another hour. Taking a seat on the marble fountain he ran over the rest of the details in his head. Due to over three hundred mutant and human alike guests in one area security measures would be taken just in case not that his dear sister knew that. Also due to the horses traffic would be directed for the event. They had wished to make it a private ceremony with no media or nosy people so traffic will be deferred from Museum Mile Rd. to East 105th St. in their respective direction.
Mentally counting there was still the suits, the dresses, last minute alterations, the cake, the flower centerpieces, making sure all the linens matched, physical appearances, the photographer, and whatever else came up.
"God just zhinking about zhe work makes me exhausted." He huffed with a smile on his lips. By the end of the day his sister would be happily married and he had helped play a part in that.
4:50 pm
"Where is that tie I just had it. I know I did."
"Scott?" The mutant turned to see Jean leaning on the door frame with said tie in hand, "You left it on the fridge." She answered his unanswered question.
"Thanks," he relieved her of the item in favor of his neck, "You want to talk don't you?"
"I tried so hard not to want the kids. I did. I guess I thought they would hinder me, but I can't help but walk past them from time to time and hold them and …"
"No one's stopping you from being their mother Jean?"
Eyes widening in surprise, "You trust me?"
"I trust the girl I know you were."
"Then that's a no."
"It was a no, but today I see her peaking at me, but that doesn't mean we have a chance."
"I know."
"So you're not trying to get me back?"
"Not today," she straightened his tie for him to end his useless struggle, "How about we just let the pieces fall for now."
"So what are we?"
"We are whatever is required of us," finished she retreated to his door, "enjoy yourself."
"You're not going?"
"She invited me but I know it was only a pleasantry."
"Then bye Tiger."
"See you around Four Eyes."
5 pm
Leaving the hair salon Rogue had her hair tightly pulled back in a cluster of ringlets with Josephine curls framing her face. Tabatha, due to her shorter hair, had hers slicked in tight waves to her forehead adorned with a feather headpiece on her left side. Kitty's hair was pulled back into a tight bun with thick waves of curls pulled from front to bun over her face with matching flower. Emma's hair, being perfectly shoulder length, allowed for playful loose summer curls. Oruro's very long hair was first curled, then pulled back somewhat by decorative hair pieces. Once done with hair make up was applied.
With a notably perfect complexion the makeup artist working on Storm's face applied a barely there pink color to her lips with a subtle brown on her lids. Emma had a light layer of mineral foundation with a bit of eyeliner and a touch of blue eye shadow to add some color to her person at the behest of the bride much to her chagrin. Kitty received a glossy peach colored lip gloss with penciled eyebrows to bring out her brown eyes with a hint of amber eye shadow which she loved so much she vowed to repeat the look especially if Pete loved it. Tabatha, like Rogue isn't one for cutesy feminine looks and asked for something barley there so the stylist focused on adding a bronzer to tone up her eyes with the gentle application of a dark brown mascara.
Rogue on the other hand was torn between refusing makeup and trying to look overly pretty to best her friends. On one hand Remy loved her without her makeup, but on the second hand with the make up his lips would curve into that smirk-smile she had begun to grow accustom too, and get the wrong idea.
With that in mind she decided to go head and spruce herself up after all he wouldn't be getting her to wear makeup again unless he forced it upon her personally. Once finished she didn't even recognize herself in a good way. Her eyebrows were trimmed and penciled, her green eyes brought out with mascara applied to the upper and bottom lid with turquoise silver smoky eye shadow with a thin line of blue under her eyes coupled with a luscious pink lip and coloring to accentuate her high cheekbones.
All they had to do now was go to the church, have Kitty help phase on their outfits, and wait.
.
.
"JeanLuc ya seen my tux anywhere?" Remy asked.
"No, hell I don't even know where mine at."
"I have zhem," Kurt sped by with multiple hangers in each hand, "I took zhem to zhe dry cleaners zhis morning to have zhem pressed."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it," he raised his voice, "I vant each of you to try on your tux to make sure no final adjustments are needed!"
As he set to work checking the problem areas such as the armpits, legs, and well anywhere two pieces of cloth were stitched together he made any necessary adjustments, had all men groomed to perfection at a local salon and back with time to spare leaving him in a rather pleasant mood when four little words dashed all his hopes of everything going off without a hitch to the wind.
"I lost the rings."
"How could you Logan?" Kurt demanded barring his fangs.
"I told you I shoulda kep 'em." JeanLuc rolled his eyes at the shorter man.
"Why? So you can pond it off?" Logan snarled back.
"Yeah tat's so much worse than dropping it in one of te most populous cities on te earth!"
"Arguin aint gonna get those rangs back now is it." Remy began when Scott cut him off.
"Alright X-Men will organize a search. Logan write down every place you've been since the last time you saw the rings, leave nothing out. Kurt since you can teleport you will take the further away places. The rest of us will split up the remaining places and search in a timely fashion and if all else fails we'll just have to buy a last minute replacement."
"Tat's wat I was gonna say."
"Leave the leadership lines to me in the future … now let's get to work."
6 pm
They had looked everywhere Logan remembered and then some. Kurt couldn't believe how stupid he was. Surely he should have kept them in a safe secure place in the beginning.
"We're getting nowhere fast." Remy said as they all regrouped in the mansion with his eyes constantly watching his watch.
"I swear I had em just this morning." Logan said again clearly baffled by their disappearance.
"Alright," Scott said, "Tell us about the ast time you saw them again."
"I was about to leave out and I pulled the rings out of my pocket to make sure they were still their when … wait a second I remember I didn't want to lose them since today of all days so I left them on my dresser next to my truck keys before I left out on that detail."
Kurt teleported instantly only to return empty handed. "I guess vell just have to buy more and fast. If we're late she'll kill me."
"Oh there you all are," Beast entered, "I had recently concluded my experiment on a laser point system to perfect the jets targeting system as well as camouflaging capabilities when I noticed you had all left. Thankfully Charles called to tell me you all weren't at the church yet."
"We're a bit busy at the moment Hank."
"Yeah busy trying ta find te rings tat he lost." Jean Luc accused.
"Ya sure yer son aint steal em?"
"Why would I steal my own rings?"
"What can I say old habits die hard."
"Well Rogue don't mind my habits hard or no."
"Vreally Remy et's not go zhere!"
"Guys fighting wont solve anything."
"Bring it on Cajun I've been waiting fer a fight!"
"Ya only say tat cause my fist would fly over yer head.'
"That's it!"
"Enough!" everyone stood still at the sound of Emma's voice ringing through their minds, "You al have fifteen minutes to be their and you're a still here arguing like a bunch of testosterone filled bulls!"
"Why are you here Em?" Scott asked.
"Because your friend has become quite worried that her possibly inept brother is uncapable of making you all reach a very near approaching deadline."
"We'd be there if Logan didn't lose the rings." Scott said.
Instead of getting upset she smirked, "Just so you know if dear Rogue has to come and get you because you a are not there and found out you ost the rinbgs there'll be hell to pay."
All visibly paling Kurt took charge, "Ok while the ceremony is starting I'll have replacement rings delivered."
"No need," Hank brandished the missing rings, "I tried to inform you before your little dispute that I needed to replace my focusing tool for one of my lasers and I was poking around and came across these rings which are the perfect size. I had forgot to leave a note but I figured I'd be finished in time, but you know how carried away I can get when I am on the verge of scientific breakthrough … then I realized what time it was and brought them here so we can all leave together."
"You mean you've had them this ENTIRE time!" Logan growled snatching them away.
"Vatever we've got less zhan fifteen minutes. Ve have to go now!"
"But we aint dressed."
"Dress on zhee way!"
They decided to take the jet, and in the park, and change on the way inside the building through a side entrance making quite a show of shuffling on pants and whatnot on their way across traffic in front of the general public making it inside with three minutes to spare.
Heart rate at a number he was sure was unhealthy Kurt went about dusting off and or making the necessary repairs if any needed to everyone's tux taking special care in Remy's.
"Son," Jean Luc began straightening out what Kurt already had as he spoke, "Now married life ain't like regular life. The best tip any man can give another in yer situation is to appease yer wife and tell her clearly and plainly upfront if ya have any issues. You see femmes are very effeminate self-absorbed creatures. They want candles and rose petals but when ya want a back rub they are too tired or busy to do that. So compromise."
"Start walkin to zhe alter." Kurt ordered.
"Wat if we can't compromise?" He asked humoring his foster father.
"Then ya aint getting laid."
"Quiet zhe music's starting." Kurt snapped taking his place silently relieved that somehow someway they had managed to pull this off.
7:15 pm
Their hands seemed bound together for neither left the other since the placement of their metallic promises on the others appendages. A sight that warmed Kurt deeply. He had always wanted, since his youth, to find someone that would fully accept him; an impossibility until he met up with the X-Men and began to know the woman he considered his sister, Amanda, and the others.
It occurred to him in these moments that perhaps love within itself is simply what happens when two people find acceptance within each other. A lover was someone you didn't have to hide yourself for. A lover loves your soul.
Eyeing them was like watching the moon meeting the Earth.
LateR
She honestly couldn't believe this was happening to her. For once she was the blushing new bride, not the hopeful dreamer looking enviously at what she didn't have. And although her stomach was once again filled with butterflies it was for a completely different reason until she turned in her hotel room to face her husband. The force of his ruby gaze nearly stole the air from her lungs.
Feeling no better than a rodent trapped in the corner by a starved hawk she shrunk inwardly. Yes Remy had always voiced his attraction to her and she had assumed she had seen said attraction multitudes of times, yet nothing could compare to how he looked at her now.
She felt exposed as his eyes feasted upon her flesh through her thick clothing. His long legs parted, his stride caused him to reach her in what seemed half seconds. Only to stop when his chest pressed against hers.
Her lips fell agape. Words forming only to disappear with the gentle touch of his calloused finger. She didn't know what he had planned. Confusion clearly marred her face until he took mercy upon her nestling her lips with his. At the beginning his lips as well as hands remained in control being sure to coax her. Will her to feel what he was feeling and soon enough she was there. Joining him on a plane she had never dared to go before.
The entrance to the new land was guarded by his mouth which she quickly opened with the force of her nearly oppressive tongue only to be met by a wall of teeth. This barrier proved stronger than the last for it was her hands running the length of his abs, causing gentle scars with her long nails, which unlocked the second door.
And then she felt it. A dam collapsing upon itself, the beginning of a universe, the birth of a star, the explosion of fireworks, a transcendence into something that was more than herself. A place she was as likely to forget as she was to run from him at this moment.
Their tongues intertwined in a spicy dance that left her mouth watering and her body hungry. And by the time they pulled away due to the ache in their lungs her eyes mirrored his own. He took advantage of the small victory by tracing the collar of her dress to her breast bone before emitting his power savoring the sight of her clothes fading into nothingness.
Normally an act like this would send her in a fit of rage ending with a very hurt Cajun and yet she couldn't find it in herself to give a damn. She would have ripped them off if he didn't speaking of which … A firm tug had his clothes as ill disposed of as hers. For a moment they simply traced the contours of each other's body with their eyes until he broke the contact grabbing her rear roughly pulling her back into a smoldering kiss with her legs wrapping around his torso he lead her towards the bed taking her to a place she had never been before.
A place that, in the recesses of his mind, he admitted he was virgin to as she was.
…
THANKS FOR READING! Hope you liked it
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